Hamas has issued a stark warning to Israel, threatening to send Israeli hostages back in coffins if military pressure is not halted. This threat comes after the discovery of the bodies of Israeli hostages in Gaza. Hamas has stated that it is prepared to follow through on this threat and has already given orders to its fighters.
According to Al Jazeera, Abu Ubaida, the spokesperson for the Qassam Brigades, declared that if Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu attempts to rescue the hostages through military force without a negotiated agreement, Hamas will return the hostages in coffins. He emphasized that the decision now lies with the families of the hostages—whether they want them back alive or in body bags.
Netanyahu’s Response: Hostages Were Shot in the Head
Hamas has blamed Netanyahu and the Israeli military for the deaths of the hostages. In response, Netanyahu revealed that the six hostages found in Hamas tunnels had been shot in the back of the head. He expressed his regret to the nation for failing to bring the hostages back alive, acknowledging how close they had come to success before ultimately failing. Netanyahu vowed that Hamas would pay a heavy price for this.
Meanwhile, a senior Hamas official claimed that the hostages were killed during Israeli airstrikes. U.S. President Joe Biden has also commented, suggesting that Netanyahu has not done enough to secure the release of the hostages.
Discovery of Hostages’ Bodies in Hamas Tunnel
On August 31, Israeli forces discovered the bodies of six hostages in Hamas tunnels in Gaza. The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) had received intelligence about the presence of six hostages in the area, leading them to approach the site with extreme caution. It was during this operation that they uncovered the tunnel and the bodies of the hostages.
Hamas had taken a total of 251 Israeli citizens hostage, of whom 97 remain in captivity. Last November, 105 hostages were released as part of a ceasefire agreement. However, around 33 hostages have since died.
Massive Protests in Israel Following Discovery
The discovery of the hostages’ bodies sparked outrage across Israel. On September 1, the country witnessed its largest protest in 11 months, with approximately 500,000 people taking to the streets in various cities. According to a report by The Times of Israel, over 300,000 protesters gathered in the capital Tel Aviv, while another 200,000 joined demonstrations in other cities.
Protesters placed six coffins, symbolizing the six murdered hostages, and accused Prime Minister Netanyahu and his government of failing to take decisive action to secure the hostages’ release. They argued that a negotiated ceasefire could have saved the hostages, but Netanyahu refrained from doing so due to political reasons.
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